AWA WRITING SKILLS

Writing essays for a magazine or a journal is not as intimidating as writing for a timed test, and anyone
who is preparing for the AWA section of the GRE, knows this too well. If English is not your first
language, the AWA score may get more attention, regardless of the type of program to which you are
applying. Graduate schools sometimes use the AWA score as a measure of your ability to express ideas
in written English. In that case, prepare for the AWA.

How Your AWA Score is Calculated

Two graders each will score each of your essays, and they will probably be college or university faculty.
To qualify for the role of “a grader”, these individuals have to pass a scoring test. In the event two
readers differ by more than a point on either essay, a third grader reader will be asked to grade the
essay; the student gets the benefit of the higher score. Each grader will give you one score for the issue
essay and one score for the argument essay. Scores range from zero to six, and can be in increments of
0.5. To be a 90th percentile GRE essay writer, you’d need a score of 5.5. You will receive only one essay
score, but that score will be the result of the averaging of four individual scores. This score will come to
you by mail roughly ten days after your test date.

What do the scores mean?

A score of 5.5 or 6 tells us that the candidate is focused, logical in his ideas and has superior intelligence.
The essay in this category demonstrates clear and consistent master, and is supported by well
developed, appropriate examples.

4.5 or 5 - Candidate can thoughtfully interpret complex ideas. The essay has a reasonably consistent
mastery, although it will have lapses in quality The examples are appropriate..

3.5 or 4 - Candidate can logically distinguish complex ideas. The essay will have lapses in quality. The
examples are adequate.

2.5 or 3 - Candidate is lacking in the skills of development and organization. The examples are
inadequate and the language displays incoherence at times.

1.5 or 2 - Candidate is weak in writing skills and logical thinking. The essay has underdeveloped
examples and is poorly organized.

0.5 or 1 - Candidate is off track and irrelevant. The essay is disjointed and incoherent.

0 - Candidate is not capable of assessment. The language is garbled and not meaningful.
STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY

1. Introduction
2. Body paragraph 1
3. Body paragraph 2
4. Conclusion.

Consider the following sample essay prompt –

"That government is best which governs least."

ASSIGNMENT: Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Choose a specific example from current
events, personal experience, or your reading to support your position.

It is essential that you spend at least 5 minutes brainstorming the prompt in hand.

Let’s see how to do this ?

First rephrase the prompt. It says that a government which governs as little as possible is the best
government. Does that not sound paradoxical? Well, most topics on the GRE are paradoxical in nature
and this why we get to take a stand. We can outright reject the prompt, which would be a very
emotional response, or spend a few moments thinking on the possibilities of debate that the prompt
throws up. You decision to agree or disagree with the prompt depends largely on the number of
examples you can come up with while brainstorming. Next, on your scratch pad, write down the
examples and decide how you plan to elaborate these examples. At the end of brainstorming, you must
be clear about your point of view (POV) and about the supporting examples to write the essay.

Introduction: The focus of the introduction should be the Point Of View or POV. The opening sentence
will contain the prompt as it is. This can be done by rephrasing the prompt in a varied sentence
structure, for e.g. At first glance, it may seem that a government which only governs and not interferes
in the matters of individual citizens is doing the best form of governance, and now comes the POV ,but a
close examination of the issue reveals that sheer governance is not enough for countries where literacy
levels are low, or where the population is humungous.etc. Now the thesis sentence or the POV of the
essay has become clear. The writer’s opinion is not in agreement with the given topic. After rephrasing
the prompt and stating the POV, the logical step will be to give a preview of the examples you plan to
use in this essay. For instance if the examples are taken from say the government of India, and from an
analogy of an Indian joint family, this is the place to mention the examples. Thus your introductory
paragraph will have 3 sentences, namely the opening sentence that describes the topic given, followed
by the point of view sentence and the third sentence that gives the preview of the examples to be
found in the essay, and which will set the tone for the rest of the essay.
Did you notice any transititional words and phrases in this introductory paragraph? Yes. At first glance…
and but. The first transitional phrase at first glance… showed compliance with the prompt and also
helped to introduce the topic to the reader while the second transition but… introduced the writer’s
point of view.

Transitional words are so very important to good essay writing. They are like signpost words. They
indicate the direction of the essay. A Highway road without signposts is unthinkable; likewise an essay
without transitions is chaotic and directionless.

Here are a few tips on how and when to use transition words and phrases:

 Always use a transition phrase at the beginning of a new body paragraph

 Always use a transition word in between thoughts within a paragraph
 Never use a transition word to begin a paragraph (but you can sometimes use a transition
phrase at the start of a new body paragraph)
 Here are some commonly used transition words and phrases

accordingly beyond for now

additionally briefly for one thing
after all but for the most part
again by and large for the time being
all in all certainly gradually
all things considered chiefly however
also coincidentally in addition
as a consequence consequently in any case
as a result contrary to in brief
as a rule contrasting in conclusion
as an example of conversely in contrast
as well as in essence
aside from comparable in summary
at first glance in the final analysis
at the same time despite in the first place
first of all
beginning with
being similar in many ways for example
besides for instance

Body Paragraph 1: The transition from the introductory paragraph to the first body paragraph must be
smooth and this is where the transitional word or phrase comes in handy. Look at the ways we could
begin the paragraph:

Let’s take the first example of…..

In the first place…
First of all…..
In regard to
To begin with

Body paragraph 2: The appropriate transition words are

Additionally…….
Besides……
What’s more……
In addition……..
Furthermore…..
More importantly……

If the second paragraph has a change of direction, or is contradicting the data in the first body
paragraph, then change of direction triggers such as the following may be used.

Alternatively…
In contrast…
On the other hand…
Conversely…..

Conclusion: The concluding paragraph sums up what ever has been said before, without introducing
any new idea. It can start with words and phrases such as to sum it all…..; In short;…… all in all;…. Thus;
in conclusion;

Approaching the task in the exam

It is not a good idea to jump headlong into the essay without planning what you want to write. You will
not have much time to edit your writing, so it is important to edit your thinking. Here’s a blueprint of
what to do with your time :-

1) Think and Brainstorm – 1-2 minutes -Read both the issue and the directions carefully. Think
about the various perspectives and the thesis/theses that can be developed. Next, think of the
examples that you can use to support your thesis. If you are undecided between two theses
then choose the thesis for which you have better examples.

2) Organize –1- 2 minutes - Plan your essay before you starts typing. Think of what you want to
include in your introduction, how you want to project your examples, and how you will conclude
the essay. Put all this down on the note board.
 3) Type – 20-22 minutes Spend about 20-22 minutes typing the essay. Stick to your plan; don’t
deviate from it as you might land up with a disorganized essay.

4) Finish – 2-3 minutes – Start wrapping up and type your conclusion.

“GOOD WRITING”

To write well, it is important to create sentences that ensure smooth transitions between sentences and
paragraphs and avoid the most dreaded pitfalls that human graders are on the look out for.

A. AWKWARD AND CONFUSING: Some sentences are awkwardly constructed and so wordy that
they do not convey the intended meaning. For example,
1. People sometimes get so angry that they would like to take someone else's life and murder
them.
2. This sentence is awkward. It is not clear who them refers to. Take someone’s life and murder
them mean the same
3. This could be simply rewritten as ….sometimes people become angry enough to contemplate
murder. . Avoid unnecessary repetition that causes confusion.
4. Based on the fact that he is pessimistic and feels life is not worth it, he is forgetting about his
loved ones whom he said he did not want to hurt. The author's basic pessimism causes him to
forget the very loved ones he said he didn't want to hurt. This is definitely shorter and less
awkward.
5. It is worth noting that women who support capital punishment are more likely to be elected.
Long and wordy Women who support capital punishment are more likely to be elected. Short
and concise.

B. SHORT and CHOPPY SENTENCES: While it is true that short sentences are easy to
comprehend and make easy reading, too many short sentences can have an adverse effect, as
can be seen in the following examples:
1. Baba Ramdev threatened to go on fast. The government did not heed to his demands. He
would again go on fast …. This could be re-written with an if clause…. If the Government
decided not to heed to his demands, Baba ramdev, threatened that he would resume his fast.
2. A solar eclipse will occur this year.. It is not viewed in Antarctica. Only penguins and birds live
there. The sentences are short, but the meaning is unclear. The solar eclipse that will occur
this year will be visible everywhere in the world, except in the Antarctica, where it will be seen
by birds and penguins. The meaning is clear.
C. WORDINESS
Wordiness results when we use more words than are necessary to express our ideas. Some common
instances are due to the fact, that instead of because, previously or in the past (both mean the same) in
an attempt to (can be actually eliminated) month after month instead of monthly. An example of
sentence wordiness:

Students will often write required writings that fulfill a grade requirement towards graduation. This
sentence can be re written as: For many students, writing is a graduation requirement.

DRILLS
Revise the following sentences in the best possible way.

1. Once hired, Stephanie was required to produce a syllabus which needed to include the learning
objectives she intended for her students to accomplish.(Begin Stephanie..).

2. My experience says, school writing is the most important skill one can have while trying to get
an education and gain knowledge to use later on in the future with whatever life has in
store.(Begin In my experience
3. It was the final goal of the game that determined the state championship.(remove it was..)
4. There were two students of the game that determined the state championship. (Remove There
were)
5. It is Saturday when I get to spend time at the animal shelter. (remove it is..
6. There is a need to proofread all works.(Begin Proofreading….

7. Over the weekend, Kevin bought a new Mac Book Pro online, two software programs, and
arranged for free shipping. Make the sentence parallel
8. Screaming all the way, the roller coaster thrilled us. Avoid the dangling modifier.
9. When the cars raced by we cheered it was an exciting race. (Make into two sentences)

Correct the following sentences

1. This dress was prettier than the other one.

2. The food was real good.
3. The professor wrote a paper on murder in his basement study. Correct answer: In his study,
the professor wrote a paper on murder.
4. Neither the topsoil nor the plants was eroded.
5. Sprinkled with chopped coriander, kids love these potatoes.
6. It is easy to learn the rules of chess, and it takes years to become a skilled player.
7. My friend Matt and I both entered our poodles in the competition, but my poodle won first
place, unlike Matt.
 8. Neither my sister nor my brother are particularly interesting.
9. When one is successful, they should enjoy it.
10. Alex wanted to work as a lawyer, play in a band, and to travel around the world.

DRILL

Brainstorming the Issue Essay – Sample essay prompts

1) Formal education tends to restrain our minds and spirits rather than set them free.
2) Governments should focus on solving the immediate problems of today rather than on
trying to solve the anticipated problems of the future.
3) Laws should be flexible enough to take account of various circumstances, times, and
places.
4) Claim: It is no longer possible for a society to regard any living man or woman as a hero.
Reason: The reputation of anyone who is subjected to media scrutiny will eventually be
diminished.
5) Leaders are created by the demands that are placed on them.

Brainstorming the Argument Essay – Sample Essay prompts

1) The following is part of a memorandum from the president of Humana University.

"Last year the number of students who enrolled in online degree programs offered by
nearby Omni University increased by 50 percent. During the same year, Omni showed a
significant decrease from prior years in expenditures for dormitory and classroom space,
most likely because instruction in the online programs takes place via the Internet. In
contrast, over the past three years, enrollment at Humana University has failed to grow, and
the cost of maintaining buildings has increased along with our budget deficit. To address
these problems, Humana University will begin immediately to create and actively promote
online degree programs like those at Omni. We predict that instituting these online degree
programs will help Humana both increase its total enrollment and solve its budget
problems."

2) The following appeared in a health magazine.

"The citizens of Forsythe have adopted more healthful lifestyles. Their responses to a recent
survey show that in their eating habits they conform more closely to government nutritional
recommendations than they did ten years ago. Furthermore, there has been a fourfold
increase in sales of food products containing kiran, a substance that a scientific study has
shown reduces cholesterol. This trend is also evident in reduced sales of sulia, a food that
few of the most healthy citizens regularly eat."
3) The following appeared in a memo from the vice president of marketing at Dura-Sock, Inc.
"A recent study of our customers suggests that our company is wasting the money it spends
on its patented Endure manufacturing process, which ensures that our socks are strong
 enough to last for two years. We have always advertised our use of the Endure process, but
the new study shows that despite our socks' durability, our average customer actually
purchases new Dura-Socks every three months. Furthermore, our customers surveyed in our
largest market, northeastern United States cities, say that they most value Dura-Socks'
stylish appearance and availability in many colors. These findings suggest that we can
increase our profits by discontinuing use of the Endure manufacturing process."

4) The following appeared in a letter from a firm providing investment advice for a client.

"Most homes in the northeastern United States, where winters are typically cold, have
traditionally used oil as their major fuel for heating. Last heating season that region experienced
90 days with below-normal temperatures, and climate forecasters predict that this weather
pattern will continue for several more years. Furthermore, many new homes are being built in
the region in response to recent population growth. Because of these trends, we predict an
increased demand for heating oil and recommend investment in Consolidated Industries, one of
whose major business operations is the retail sale of home heating oil."

5) The following appeared in a memo from the director of a large group of hospitals.

"In a laboratory study of liquid antibacterial hand soaps, a concentrated solution of UltraClean produced
a 40 percent greater reduction in the bacteria population than did the liquid hand soaps currently used
in our hospitals. During a subsequent test of UltraClean at our hospital in Workby, that hospital reported
significantly fewer cases of patient infection than did any of the other hospitals in our group. Therefore,
to prevent serious patient infections, we should supply UltraClean at all hand-washing stations
throughout our hospital system."

TEMPLATE FOR THE ISSUE ESSAY

Paragraph 1 – The Introduction

 Paraphrase the Issue/Explain the given quote

 State your Thesis clearly
 A quick description/instance or supporting the thesis can be given

Paragraph 2 -

 Ensure a smooth transition

 Introduce your best/most relevant example
 Explain the relevance of the example
 Justify your example i.e. how it supports your thesis

Paragraph 3 -

 Provide a suitable transition

 Introduce the next example --this should be the second-best example and should be somehow
different from the first example
  Explain the relevance of the example
 Explain how it supports your thesis

Paragraph 4- (Optional)

 Use a transition word

 Introduce the next example --this example, too, should be somewhat different from the first
two example – try not to be repetitive
 Explain the relevance of the example
 Explain how it supports your thesis

Paragraph 5 -

 Write an effective conclusion

 Transition is important
 Restate your thesis
 Summarize

TEMPLATE FOR ANALYSIS OF AN ARGUMENT

Paragraph 1 - Introduction

 Paraphrase the Conclusion

 Mention the premise
 Present your position on the logical soundness of the conclusion
 Point out that the argument is not well reasoned

Paragraph 2

 Make a smooth transition

 State the most obvious flaw/assumption
 Explain the assumption made by the author
 Discuss the plausibility of this assumption
 Mention what information is needed to strengthen the argument

Paragraph 3

 Ensure a smooth transition

 Describe the next flaw/assumption
 Assess the assumption and its plausibility
 Describe what else is needed to strengthen the argument

Paragraph 4 (Optional)
  Make a smooth transition
 State the next flaw/assumption
 Question the assumption made by the author
 Assess the accuracy of this assumption
 Describe the kind of information that will strengthen the argument

Conclusion

 State once again that the argument is not well reasoned

 Summarize – Suggest ways to strengthen the argument